It makes sense that the Israeli government’s Tourism Ministry is promoting a tour of sites where the Virgin Mary is believed to traveled and lived.

This Associated Press report and another from the Jerusalem Post discusses how this new tour is being promoted much like the well-known ones attracting Christians to follow the places where Jesus walked in Israel.

Christian congregations and individuals from San Antonio have a long history of taking trips to Israel to see sacred sites to enhance their personal spiritual experiences. U.S. tourists to Israel for religious visits like these have been beneficial to Israel economically and politically.

This one based on Mary will likely continue this trend and obviously appeal to the many Catholics in the U.S., especially since devotion to Mary seems to be growing.